Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)

The dancing teacher Anastasia falls in love with the smart theatre agent Jud. He likes her, too, but does not want to give up his solo life at all. Thus she plans a trap for him...

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writer:

Ruth Brooks Flippen

Stars:

Larry Parks, Elizabeth Taylor, Josephine Hutchinson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Larry Parks	...	Jud Parker
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Anastacia (Stacie) Macaboy
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Mrs. Macaboy
Tom Tully	...	Mr. Charles E. Macaboy
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Levoy
Elinor Donahue	...	Pattie Marie Levoy
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Kahrney
Doreen McCann	...	Albertina Kahrney
Alex Gerry	...	Hamlet
Dick Wessel	...	Smitty

Storyline

The dancing teacher Anastasia falls in love with the smart theatre agent Jud. He likes her, too, but does not want to give up his solo life at all. Thus she plans a trap for him...

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Plot Keywords:

love | theater | baseball | dance school | talent agent | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Melhor é Casar

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1951 star Larry Parks was among the first Hollywood personalities to admit that he had been a member of the Communist Party, in testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was subsequently among those blacklisted in Hollywood, and the release of this film was delayed as a result.

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Quotes

Kid: I'm a grape.
Jud Parker: I'm happy for you.

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Soundtracks

"The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
(uncredited)
Traditional children's song

User Reviews

wholesome

A romantic comedy about how the fear of marriage was nearly enough to scare a guy (Larry Parks), a New York talent agent, away from the young and very good-looking Elizabeth Taylor. It portrays a wholesome family background set in suburban Connecticut, with Taylor living with her parents and the owner and number one dance instructor of a school which trains dozens of local children. Stanley Donen used the kids to good effect in several dance scenes, the best of which is the finale production the school puts on for the town, with Taylor standing in the middle of a long line of four to six year-olds. Her attraction to Parks' character forms the crux of the plot, bringing him to Connecticut and seeing his character as a savvy New York pro mingling with the small towners, a bit reminiscent of the story in The Music Man, where, after being subjected enough to the simple life, a cynical guy and committed bachelor finally gives in.